This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Independent report backs Executive policy
27/02/2002
An independent report published today records widespread
support for the Executive's far-reaching proposals for
changing the present system of development planning.
The report has been prepared by Geoff Peart Consulting
and provides a thorough analysis of more than 300 responses
to the consultation paper
Review of Strategic Planning. Responses were
received from individuals, academic institutions,
businesses, local authorities and other public bodies.
Iain Gray, Minister for Social Justice said:
"I am grateful to everyone who responded to the
consultation paper. I believe that the volume of responses
indicates the timeliness of our proposals, and that the
widespread support reflects an appetite for change.
"It is crucial that we continue to modernise our
planning system so that it is fit for purpose in the 21
st century.
"We will reconsider all our proposals over the next
couple of months both in the light of Geoff Peart's report
and in conjunction with the forthcoming Community
Regeneration Statement and the Cities Review. I expect to
be able to announce the way forward in the late spring or
early summer."
The proposals that gained the greatest support
included:
- the preparation of a national planning framework
for Scotland
- the use of model development plan policies
- removing the blanket requirement for structure
plans and local plans for all parts of Scotland
- preparing action plans as part of development
plans
- revising the arrangements for plan monitoring
- and making greater use of supplementary
guidance
Around half the responses to the consultation were
received from individuals or organisations in Fife. Many of
these had interpreted the Executive's proposal that
strategic development plans should be prepared by groupings
of authorities for each of the four largest city regions as
a threat to Fife Council's functions and boundaries.
Ministers have reiterated that the Review is not concerned
with either removing any of the Council's functions or
altering its boundaries. The objective is to ensure that
development plans across Scotland reflect more closely
realities on the ground.